SLO County Roundup

A few months after extra-curricular activities were completely cut from the Paso Robles Public Schools budget, many high school coaches and other after-school volunteers will have their stipends reinstated with federal funds.

Still, some former stipend recipients, including all middle school athletic coaches, will be left out.Forced to cut $7.4 million from its budget, the school board eliminated stipends earlier this year that paid for sports and other activities, including coaches and advisers for yearbook, drama and dance.

But after receiving $1.3 million from the Federal Jobs Act, the board — rehiring some laid-off teachers and restoring bus routes first — decided to funnel some money back into extra-curricular activities.

Help us deliver journalism that makes a difference in our community.

Our journalism takes a lot of time, effort, and hard work to produce. If you read and enjoy our journalism, please consider subscribing today.

The board had originally planned to pay all stipend recipients at 50 percent of previous pay. After the union refused that proposal, the board decided to fund some stipends at 100 percent and leave others unfunded.

Funded positions include high school and middle school activity directors, kindergarten and elementary school bilingual coordinators and high school and middle school department chairs.

Unfunded stipends include middle school drama, cheerleading and all junior varsity and middle school sports.

The federal money is a one-time source of funding, meaning that all stipend pay will be back on the table next year.

— Pat Pemberton

SLO County

McTeacher’s Night fundraising events, held today through Oct. 21 at local McDonald’s restaurants, will support Central Coast schools.

Local teachers, principals and PTA members will work at the restaurants from 5 to 8 p.m. on selected dates, with 20 percent of sales donated to the participating schools:

Nipomo Elementary School: Tuesday at McDonald’s at 460 W. Tefft St. in Nipomo.

Vineyard Elementary School: Oct. 21 at McDonald’s at 1859 Ramada Drive in Paso Robles. Chevron will also donate 10 cents for every gallon of gas sold from 5 to 8 p.m. on Oct. 21 to Vineyard Elementary.

— Julia Hickey

San Luis Obispo

Arroyo Grande’s Recreation and Maintenance Services Department and the Cal Poly Trail Runners are co-sponsoring a five-kilometer fun run and walk on Saturday.

Check-in starts at 8 a.m. at Cal Poly’s University Union, and the race starts at 9 a.m.

Prizes will be awarded to the top three male and female runners.

Registration costs $15 and includes an entry in a post-race raffle; the proceeds will benefit the city of Arroyo Grande’s Children in Motion child care programs.

Participants can park on campus for free.

Registration is available online at www.asi.calpoly .edu/paypal2941 through Friday. There is no day-of registration.

For more information, call the recreation department office at 473-5474 or e-mail calpolytrailrunners@gmail.com.

— Cynthia Lambert

Cal Poly

Cal Poly is hosting the 13th annual CultureFest from noon to 4 p.m. Sunday in San Luis Obispo’s Mitchell Park.

The communitywide festival will celebrate and advocate cultural diversity through activities including student displays, performances and music. It’s sponsored by the university’s MultiCultural Center and Student Life and Leadership.

The free, family-friendly event also features food and a children’s area with games and crafts.